Folding container constructions



April 10, 1956 s. BELANGER 2,741,391

FOLDING CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIONS Filed oct. 8, 1953 l s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY April 10, N956 s. BELANGER 2,741,391

FOLDING CONTAINER CoNsTRucTroNs Filed Oct. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fles 2e ls so 52 26 FIG I5 I 48 48 N INVENTOR if slNAl BELANGER 2s i4 I4 67 L L-g-AJ- l u Maf@ 5| 22 ATTORNEY pril lO, 1956 s, BELANGER 2,741,391

FOLDING CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Oct. 8, 1953 3 SheelZS-SheeiI 5 INVENTOR yin- L? SINAI BELANGER m8 gf a; g2 d f ATTORNEY United States Patent 'O 2,741,391 FoimNG coNrAiNnn coNsTRUcnoNs Sinai Belanger, Worcester, YMass. Application October 8, 1953, Serial No. 384,950

11 Claims. (Cl. 220-6) This invention relates to new and improved folding containers particularly of crate or box form, and `the V4principal object of the invention resides in the provision forming an lend wall outline; an upper rectangular open Aframe having sliding connections with said end posts, the

`upper rectangular frame being vertically raisable from a folded condition substantially in Contact with the ,bottom frame to a fully extended raised condition wherein it provides a rim for the container, said rim defining an area of the container in spaced relation to the bottom frame and providing means for rigidifying side and end -wall panels, said side and end wall panels not being critical Vto the invention but being optional where desired; and the provision of pivoted lever members at the ends of the folding container having sliding connection by means of-pins and slots with the end members .of said open rectangular frames, said levers providing for folding of the upper frame .directly downwardly on the lower frame without endwise motion, and bracing and rigidifying the ends of the .conrainer when extended and increasing the smoothness of opening and closing operation thereof.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a folding extensible container as described above embodying a construction for stacking of said `containers in multiple units vertically when extended or when folded, so that a great many of the units may be stacked in a very small space for storage or transportation, and also the units may be stacked vertically when extended and in .condition for use as containers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view in side elevation, parts being broken away, showing the container when extended;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive are sections on lines 4 4, 5 5, 6 6, 7 7, 8 8 and 9 9 respectively in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10- 10 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 1l illustrates the container at the initiation of the folding action thereof;

Fig. l2 illustrates the container fully folded;

Fig. 13 is a plan view on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away and looking in the direction of arrow 13 in Fig. 12;

A 2,743,391 Patented Apr. 1Q, 1.956

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Eig. V14 xis va section lonline -1:1 14 .of Fig. 13;

Fig. .-15 is a .diagrammatic view illustrating the containers .stacked in .extended condition thereof;

Fig. 16 is a view inside elevation showing a modification;

.-Fig. 17 is an `enlarged sectional view, taken on lines 17 17 of Fig. .16;

Fig. 1'8 Ais a sectional view on line 1S- 18 of Fig. 1-6;

Fig. 19 is a plan view vof va latch, looking in the direction of arrow 19 ein Fig. 1.6;

Fig. 20 :is a view in elevation of the latch means, looking in the direction of arrow 20 inl-iig. 19;

Fig. vv2.1 `is a diagrammatic view of .the container showing the side walls folded down;

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic `view showing the container with the sides down, illustrating the action of the end walls;

Fig. 2,3 -is a -view in side elevation showing another `modiication; and

Fig. 24 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a partition arrangement, lookingin the direction of arrow 24, Fig. 23.

In general, this invention relates to a folding box, crate or container which may be made of particular use in a great many applications, including the ,transportation of yarticlessuch as bakery goods, milk bottles .and paper milk cartons, -and in a great many other relationships. There- Vfore the invention -contemplates modifications of details so as to accommodate the container Vto the various Vindustries or V.commercial enterprises indicated by the use of the device.

-One form .of the invention is disclosed vin general in 'l-igs. l to l51and in most instances a sheet-like bottom member 8 will be required lalthough the particular form and `substance 'of vthis bottom memberis unimportant to the present invention, las Vit maybe in the form vof an open .rectangular lower '.or :bottom frame indicated at 10, 12, 14 and 1.6; and to this rectangular frame there may be secured, if desired, the sheet bottom or a reticulated bottom such as indicated Vin Fig. '24. Many variations of the bottom member are of course possible yand come within the scope of the invention, and this is .true also with respect to other members ofthe device as will be made more apparent hereinafter.

To the bottom rectangular frame described, there are pivoted four corner posts which are indicated at 18, 20, 22 and l24.v These four corner posts are pivoted vto the Vbottom frame member as for instance by any means such as rivets 26 (see particularly Fig. 8). Each one of the corner posts is relatively Ywide as compared with its thickness as is apparent from a comparison of Figs. l and 2, and the corner posts extend parallel to each other as is apparent. The rivets or pivot `means 26 are arranged inwardly from the ends of the container, so that the corner posts pivot from .the Fig.1 position to the Fig. 12 position about axes which are located inwardly from the extreme ends `of the container (see lparticularly Figs. 1l and 12). The reason for this lconstruction will be made more apparent hereinafter.

An upper rectangular frame member indicated generally at 28 is co-extensive in area with the bottom member 10, 12, 14and 16 and comprises equal runs of the same size. The two parallel sideruns of the upper frame member v28 are slotted as at 30, these .slots being relatively long and extending substantially from points adjacent the ends of the long runs of -member 28 toward the center thereof as best shown in Figs. 1 and 11. Pivot members 32, which may be similar to those shown in Fig. 8, are secured to the corner posts adjacent an edge opposite to those at 26, and these members take into the slots 30, so that as the corner posts pivot downwardly toward each other, the upper frame member is constrained to be moved bodily vertically, yand if desired to be present, the intermediate frame shown at 34 is likewise slotted as at 36 or'the reception of pivotrneans 38. In Aany event, the Y upper rectangular frame and the intermediate rectangular frame are folded down into the Fig. l2 position upon moving the posts inwardly toward `each other as described.

It is to be noted that the pivots 26, 38 and 32 are arranged on lines which are inclined to the vertical and by this means the respective frames are brought down to folded position with the corner posts horizontal, so that there are no extending or protruding ends of` any kind to interfere with the action of the device or to minimize the folding of the device into the smallest space possible. The

corner posts may be made offset, or doubled in construction, to intert in folded condition, see Fig. 13.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there are 'shown the two end levers generally indicated at 40, these end levers being pivoted by pins or rivets or similar means 44 to the respective rectangular frames described, and these levers will pivot due to the longitudinal slots 46 from the extended inclined'position of Fig. 3 to the horizontal position of Fig. 13, so that they provide in eect bracing and rigidifyingmeans and also end protective members for the crate in folded form.

These levers contribute to the smoothness of action for folding operation in both directions, and always ensure that the rectangular frames are constantly maintained in their vertically aligned positions regardless of degree of folding, and this is accomplished by the heads 42 on the pins 44, which bear on the levers 40 and maintain -them vertical, and the frames from departing from the exact vertical arrangement, against end-wise motion.

The cornerv posts are provided with handle constructions, one form of which is indicated at 48. These handles may be Vofthe bale type shown, or they may be'straight bars extending directly across, see 49 in Figs. 16, 17 and 23. When they are of the bale type, they cross as shown in Fig. 13 when the crate is folded, and they are used to erect the structure to extended condition by pulling upwardly thereon. In any case, notches 51 are provided in the top rectangular frame to receive the bales so that the structure may fold at.

may be considerably shorter than as shown in Fig. 1, and .i

this is shown in Fig. 16 wherein the posts 54 are generally similar but shorter. In other respects, the construction is more or less the same as above described, but in this case there are provided pivots 55 for the solid folding side members 56, the latterfhaving pivoted latches 58 taking over the top edge of the top frame indicated at 60 in order to hold the solid side members 56 in erect position. The end walls which are formed by a pair of-corner posts and apconnecting handle as shown in Fig. 3 may also be solid or may be supplied with a solid sheet of material so that the entire container becomes a crate. On the other hand, these sides and bottom parts may Vbe'made of wire as indicated at 62 in Fig. V24, this view being diagrammatic but the corner posts being indicated at 64 in order to orient the subject matter. YThese wire bottom and side members may be made inrany'form desired, depending upon the materials or objects to be carried in the container, and the upper and intermediate rectangular frames may also have a wire partition-like structure. Y t

it will be seen that this invention comprises a relatively simple carrier for any goods desired, and itis easily folded and extended in asecond or two. The action is smooth and easy, ,but the parts are arranged so that they tend to remain either folded or extended. This result isrenhanced by thefriction andweight o f the parts, and the Crate or to said lower frame, an upper frame, a sliding connection box can be carried by one handle alone without the dangerY of'collapse, even though the container is empty.

Although this invention has'been disclosed as applied to a container, foldable box, crate, etc., the word container in this case is used in a broad sense, and the invention is intended to apply to any container of whatever nature wherein the construction may be found desirable Y or convenient. Examples of containers may be, in addif tion to the boxes and crates, as above stated, portable structures such as temporary shelters, kennels, cribs forL infants, play yards, beds, etc. From this it will be seen that the word container as used Yin the appended claims is intended to relate to the construction for containing anything, whatever the case may be.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, i do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is: n

l. A folding container of the class described comprising a lower frame, corner posts pivoted in pairs to said lower frame, an upper frame, a sliding connection between the corner posts and the upper frame, said corner posts being swingableton axes parallel to Vsaid lower frame to selec tively extend upright or Vto be folded down into aligned position at the sides of the frames, said upper frame moving vertically up and down according to the angular movement of said posts, and sliding and pivoted means to maintain Va constant endwise relationship between the upper and the lower frames.

2. A folding container of the class described comprising a lower frame, a corner posts pivoted in pairs between the corner posts and the upper frame, said corner posts being swingable on axes parallel to said lower frame to selectively extend upright or to be folded down into aligned position at the sides of the frames, said upper frame moving vertically up and down Vaccording to the angular movement of said posts, and means to maintain a constant endwise relationship between the upper and the lower frames, an intermediate frame slidingly and pivotally connected to the corner posts, said upper and intermediate frames being open, and movable in unison with the corner posts.

3. The folding container of claim 2 wherein the frames are rectangular in form and the corner posts are at.

4. The folding container of claim 2 wherein the frames are rectangular in form and the corner posts are at and have an appreciable width compared to their thickness, the said pivot axes therefor being in-set from the extreme ends of the'lower frame.

5. kA folding container of the class described comprising a lower frame, cornerY posts pivoted in pairs to said lower frame, an upper frame, a sliding connection between the corner posts and the upper frame, said corner posts being swingable on axes parallel to said lower frame to selectively extend upright or to be folded down into aligned position at Vthe sides of the frames, said upper frame moving vertically up and down according to the angular movement of said posts, and means to maintain a constant endwise relationship between the upper and the lower frames, said corner posts `being wide and flatly contacting the frames, the latter beingcoextensive with the corner posts and lyingbehind the same when the container is folded. A

6. A folding container comprising a lower rectangular frame, a pair of wide, thin parallel corner posts at each of two opposites'ides thereof, said posts being swingable from upright positions to positions down into 'the connection with one frame and a pivot connection with the other frame, said levers maintaining the relative endwise positions of said frames.

7. A folding container comprising a lower rectangular frame, a pair of wide, thin parallel corner posts at each of two opposite sides thereof, said posts being swingable from upright positions to positions down into the general area of the frame, an upper rectangular frame, slots therein, means on the corner posts received in the slots for vertical movement of the upper frame relative to the lower frame according to the swinging action of the corner posts, and a lever at each of the remaining sides of the combined frames, each lever including a slidable connection with one frame and a pivot connection with the other frame, said levers maintaining the relative endwise positions of said frames, an intermediate frame connected with the levers and with the corner posts, said intermediate frame being slidable and pivotable relative to the levers and posts.

8. A folding container comprising a lower rectangular frame, a pair of wide, thin parallel corner posts at each of two opposite sides thereof, said posts being swingable from upright positions to positions down into the general area of the frame, an upper rectangular frame, slots therein, means on the corner posts received in the slots for vertical movement of the upper frame relative to the lower frame according to the swinging action of the corner posts, and a lever at each of the remaining sides of the combined frames, each lever including a slidable connection with one frame and a pivot connection with the other frame, said levers maintaining the relative endwise positions of said frames, an intermediate frame connected with the levers and with the corner posts, said intermediate frame being slidable and pivotable ralative to the levers and posts, the levers having slots, means secured to the frames and slidably located in the slots for maintaining the levers in vertical position regardless of the swinging action thereof.

9. A folding container of the class described comprising a lower frame, corner posts pivoted in pairs to said lower frame, an upper frame, a sliding connection between the corner posts and the upper frame, said corner posts being swingable on axes parallel to said lower frame to selectively extend upright or to be folded down into aligned position at the sides of the frames, said upper frame moving vertically up and down according to the angular movement of said posts, and means to maintain a constant endwise relationship between the upper and the lower frames, a bottom in the lower frame and pivoted side members connected to the lower frame and connectable to the upper frame when the device is extended.

l0. A folding container of the class described comprising a lower frame, corner posts pivoted in pairs to said lower frame, an upper frame, a sliding connection between the corner posts and the upper frame, said corner posts being swingable on axes parallel to said lower frame to selectively extend upright or to be folded down into aligned position at the sides of the frames, said upper frame moving vertically up and down according to the angular movement of said posts, and means to maintain a constant endwise relationship between the upper and the lower frames, stacking means on the corner posts comprising notches at the upper ends thereof and bosses at the lower ends thereof.

l1. A folding container of the class described comprising a lower frame, corner posts pivoted in pairs to said lower frame, an upper frame, a sliding connection between the corner posts and the upper frame, said corner posts being swingable on axes parallel to said lower frame to selectively extend upright or to be folded down into aligned position at the sides of the frames, said upper frame moving vertically up and down according to the angular movement of said posts, and means to maintain a constant endwise relationship between the upper and the lower frames, a reticulated bottom in the lower frame and a mesh partition in the upper frame.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 890,525 Mary June 9, 1908 1,027,215 Poppert May 2l, 1912 1,196,625 Wright et al Aug. 29, 1916 1,211,152 Hickerson Ian. 2, 1917 2,539,260 McCurdy Jan. 23, 1951 2,579,655 Donald Dec. 25, 1951 

